Two-sided checkerboard with recess-defining ribs



Sept. 29, 1970 Y Y P Es 3,531,122

-SIDED CHECKER-BOARD WITH RECESS-DEFINING RIBS mm; Jan. 18, 1968 FIG - INVENTOR DAVID MEADE PEEBLES ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,531,122 TWO-SIDED CHECKERBOARD WITH RECESS-DEFINING RIBS David Meade Peebles, 325 Marcy Ave., Oxon Hill, Md. 20021 Filed Jan. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 698,853 Int. Cl. A63f 3/02 US. Cl. 273-136 I 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rigid non-folding molded plastic gameboard of the checkerboard type having supporting surfaces on opposite sides thereof and a grid work of upstanding right angular ribs formed integrally with the body portion of the gameboard, with the recesses formed by the ribs on one side of the board being relatively deep in comparison with the recesses formed on the opposite side.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is a definite need for a game apparatus which will allow handicapped and aged individuals to enjoy the recreation of playing table games, where this may not be possible with the use of conventional apparatus, such as commercial checker boards, chess games and the like. There is also a need for such specialized game apparatus for young children who do not have full coordination but who otherwise could master games to a certain extent and gain benefit therefrom. In some instances, there is a need for games of this character which may be played in moving automobiles and on airplanes and the like.

The invention satisfies the above needs of the art in a practical, simplified and economical manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A game board which is preferably larger than conventional is provided with plural surface cavities to effectively lock game pieces in selected positions on the board without appreciable displacement of the pieces should the board move or be subjected to vibration or the like. The game pieces are preferably larger than conventional and are constructed for ease of handling and placement at diffenent points on the board and are also constructed for interlocking engagement when stacked one upon another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of the apparatus depicted by FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a similar cross sectional view of a modification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings in detail wherein the numerals designate like parts, attention is directed first to FIGS. 1 and 2' which show one embodiment of the game apparatus accomplishing the objectives or purposes discussed above. A game board is provided formed of molded plastic or the like having a multiplicity of square recesses 21 or compartments on its top face defining the squares upon which the checkers 22 are placed during the playing of the game. The heights of the compartments 21 are preferably somewhat less than the height of a checker, as clearly shown in FIG. 2.' Also, the compartments 21 are some what larger than the checkers 22 to facilitate handling the checkers with ease. Both the board 20 and the checkers are preferably, although not necessarily, larger than the standard game size. The compartments 21 positively limit ice sliding or displacement of checkers when placed on designated squares during playing of the game.

As shown, the checkers are conically tapered for ease of lifting with the fingers and the top of each checker 22 has a shallow recess 23 to facilitate stacking as in FIG. 2 to make a king. The interfitting stacked checkers will not separate due to vibrations and the like.

FIG. 3 shows a slightly modified checker board 24 similar to the board 20 and having the identical top surface compartment 21, above-described, to receive and locate the checkers. In FIG. 6, the lower surface of the board is also provided with square checker receiving recesses 25 which are considerably shallower than the recesses 21. The board 24 may be utilized with either side up and some players may prefer the shallower recesses 25 instead of the deeper recesses 21. Also, some children and handicapped players may be able to progress from the more deeply recessed side of the game board to the shallow recessed side.

In connection with the structures shown in FIGS. 1-3, the rib elements surrounding the game piece spaces which define the locator recesses 21 also serve to render the entire game board much more rigid and allow the use of less material in the main body web thereof. The ribs or walls which define the recesses 21 constitute surface projections on one or both faces of the board and thus function in basically the same manner as the elements 13 and 19.

In both forms, the game apparatus has utility as an amusement device, like any other game, and it may also have therapeutic value in connection with the mentally retarded and the physically handicapped, in the latter case as a physical therapy device, and in the former for instruction.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claim.

I claim:

1. A unitary substantially rigid non-folding molded plastic game board for playing checkers comprising a flat panel body portion disposed in a single plane and being substantially square and constituting checker supporting surfaces on opposite sides thereof, a grid Work of upstanding right angular ribs formed integrally with said panel body portion on the opposite sides thereof in opposed relationship, said grid work of ribs on each side of the panel body portion defining a recessed checker game board pattern on each side of the panel body portion including a continuous marginal flange extending around all edges of the panel body portion, the individual recesses formed by the grid work of ribs on each side of the panel body portion being substantially square and being of a size to receive a checker loosely therein, the ribs on each side of the panel body portion being of even height with their edges lying in a common plane parallel to the plane of the panel body portion, the ribs and said recesses on one side of the panel body portion being relatively deep in comparison to the rib-s and recesses on the opposite side so that the ribs and recesses on the two sides can exert different degrees of restraint on the checkers during the playing of a game.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 72,670 12/1867 Nott. 150,735 5/1874 Whitcomb. 1,441,386 1/ 1923 Truskoski. 1,474,504 11/1923 Allen.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner 

